New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-30
NEW PUBLICATIONS
AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.

AppIEIoSs CYCLOP4EDiA OF ANEkiCAS III. htV jns
Ply. Edited by JANUS GkAsI MIisoH anu Sunn
1isKE. Vol IL keysisvO' pH T. 7's- !" ~S'~'''
AGO. .naa
The second volume Of this useful work extenos
from tic title Crane to the title Grimsnaw
The characteristics most praised In the iirst In
ytalmcnt of the publication are all emphasized as
the enterprise goes on The comprehensiveness OF
the plan, including not merely the names which
deserve remembrance, but all those about which
reop,e are likely, now or hereafter TO inquire
distinguishes this from all other large bfographi
cal dictionaries In tie language, and gives IL
value which will be more and more appreciated
as time goes on Every studeDt OF history
politics, literature. science, religion KNOWS tnao
IL IL the hunt after the little celeDriues WHICH
gives the most trouble II the new oieuohAfy
had no other merit IL would SILL deserve . gooa
yIace on our shelves, because 1t contains no m"hy
names that are not easily found anywhere else
A Largo hospitality continues to be gwen "
Spanish American titles; Canadian notabiiites are
systematically treated; and the plan OF incindihg
the biographies OF foreigners who have had any
close connection with America or American AFFAIRS
whether as discoveries, adventurers, travellers
authors, soldiers statesmen, Is pursued WIN
excellent effect. In these important particulars
the "(,yelopedia of American Biography" holds
highly commended for the freshness Of Its
information The editors seem to have been
alert 70 discover the latest news about their
heroes. living and dead, and TO give US the fruits
of current controversy. the achievements of yester
day. aad the most recent If not always the fullest
biblograpby Defects of workmanship are less
conspicuous than in the first volume The sub
editing still lacks thoroughness. Grammatical
soiecsms and obscurities Of construction are too
common; proper names occurring incidentally I'D
the text are sometimes nlisspelled; strange omis-
sions which might easily have been supplied ap-
pear TO have passed unnotced. These blemlshes'
however, may be overlooked in view of the great
practical usefulness of the work; and we may
presume that they will become less frequent as
the working staff grow familiar with their duties.
Among the longest and most elaborate articles
In the second yolume are those on Jefferson
Davis; the De Lancy family; President Diaz;
Stephen A. Douglas; the Dwights John Eliot, by
Ellsworth Eliot, NJ d.. Emerson, by George Par
sons Lathrop; Farragut by Rossiter johnson;
Willard Fillmore, by General ]. G. Wilson; Frank
lin ard Fulton, by John Fislze; Garfield, by the
Hon. William Walter Phelps; General Grant, by
General Horace Porte; and Horace Greeley, by
Whtelaw Reid. The sketch of Mr.. Davis is care
fully and upon the whole adroity done, though both
the friends and the foes of the Confederacy will
think that it lacks color. The anonymous biog'
raphy OF Stephen A. Douglas Is somewhat per-
functory, and the exact relations of the Illinois
Senator 10 the antslavcry struggle are less clearly
brought out than they should be- Mr.. Lathrop's
Emerson" is admirable. The narrative is COM
plete and interesting, the criticism is judicous and
concise, and the writer has been especially sue
cessfu In the difficult task of stating Emerson's
opinions and defining his characteristics. Mr..
Johnson's "Farragut" is readable, complete and
picturesque Mr.. John Fiske writes Of Franklin
with full knowledge ardent enthusiasm and an
engaging style, and has perhaps made the most
interesting sketch Of the philosopher to be found
IN small compass. We may well demur to his
statement that Franklin lis of the greatest
men whose names are FaGOF4ed in history y; he
an illustrious example of a certain kind of
greatness but his distinguishing virtues did not
belong TO the highest order. Mr.. Fiske, however,
is nothing If not positive. 1t is unnecessary TO
say that the tone i'm which General Porter writes
of Grant is that Of unfaggiDg affection and admir-
alton. The military narrative Is precise, clear
and attractive, passing over in silence the criti
cisms which have been made upon certain parts
OF the campaigns, and presenting the large move
ments and their splendid results with becoming
imprcssiveness. The events of President Grants
civil administration are described with much
particularly. History, when she condescends to
the details of this period, will not be so uni
formly eulosistic as General Porter; but his
article fairly represents the spirit in which the
American people, who have already forgotten most
Of Grants errors, will cherish the memory of the
great, patriotic and high-minded soldier. Some
of President Grants political services were of
magnificent and lasting value to the Nation. and
General Porter has bestowed upon them no more
than deserved encomium. Mr.. Phelps's "Gar-
field" is a model which eyclopeda writer's might
we'll study. 1t is full without prol kitty, ami
mated without rhetorical flourish, concise without
dryness, and Astounding ia evidences Of On ex-
ceptonal familiarity with the subject. which.
however. never betrays the author into extrava-
giant opinions. His account Of General Garfelds
military and political career is equally striking
in both chapters; and he deals with the contro-
versies which preceded and followed the Presi-
Dental election with entire franllness. In tech
nical workmanship the article is one Of the best
in the book. General Wilson's article on Presi-
dent Fillmore is written in temper Of warm
admiration, and he has contributed to his diction-
airy several other important sketches Of person.
ages who especially command his sympathies, such
as Joseph Rodman Drake and Mrs Grant of
Laggan. Mr.. PariSman is the author OF brilliant
delineation of Count Frontenac. character who
well repays the study of this most fascinating
historian. In the article on General Gage. Mr..
John Fiske shows how a variety of information
can be crowded into small space and illustrates
one Of tho best points OF the cyclopgdia, namely,
the care with which. at least in many cases, the
reader is referred to rare or little known docu-
ments.